Shaking it up Baby

You can shake things up in your house with little effort. I moved the crates into the dining room for a bit. I probably don't do it as often as I should-the purpose is really just to get the dogs used to being crated somewhere else besides the bedroom. This is useful if you are ever going to travel with your dog.

Of course, traveling with your dog is great stimulation and training too. Greta will be riding shotgun next month when I go to Houston. I'm still up in the air as to whether or not to take a second. Both Cody and Prissy could benefit from sharing Greta's love of the car.

Another good shake up is to train your dog while YOU sit down-useful if you ever end up in a wheelchair or need to shout a command from a park bench.

The thing is, those little changes provide mental stimulation for your dog, with very little effort on your part. Training is more about every day things than a once a week class. (Not knocking the classes at all-they are essential-even trainers take classes).

The Oldest and the Youngest

Prissy and Bitty were off to the vet this morning-Prissy to get her bum checked and Bitty for bloodwork. The oldest and the youngest (by two months). And Prissy was very well behaved in the communal crate this morning. She is really showing some hopeful signs of becoming a decent little dog.

It really is true-a dog isn't mature until at least 2 years old. Mentally mature, I'm not talking about breeding. Around about a year and half, the tide starts turning, and viola-you "suddenly" have a nice dog on your hands.

Sadly-many dogs end up in shelters at around 6 months-the worst stage of a dogs life and one that lasts for around a year. I have a theory that most people should not have puppies but rather young, trained adults.

That is one reason I would like to breed-because I could do the raising then place them in forever homes (Hah, it would never happen).

I really really would like to go pick out a dog, work with it, then rehome it-but it's the last part that I can't seem to do. And there is the almighty dollar factor, in that I can't afford to do that unless I am reimbursed for the time/vet bills.

The neighbors have all heard Bitty's story and agreed that she should be here and isn't a bit of trouble. (I'm two dogs over the limit, but I could, if I had to, say the old ones live at Mom and Dads'). Theoretically we have 6 dogs we can spread out over 2 yards and I think Carol would let me use her yard too.

Oh goodness-I just had a vision of a neighborhood that rescued dogs and built a community of caring. Imagine.

Department of Animal Welfare

I went by the "dog pound" on another errand yesterday so I walked in and checked them out. The new building is really nice, the cats have great playrooms and there are playrooms for potential adopters to visit with potential adoptees. AND, they have the most awesome wheelchair access in the city.

I'm glad I stopped in because it has vastly improved over the past 20 years and I needed to know that. There are people here in Oklahoma who care. Attitudes towards pets are largely rural here, but they have progressed.

I said a prayer for all the dogs and cats currently there and took a volunteer form to ponder.

Someone in a better mood than me

DOOCE

This is a link to a Chuck entry on the Dooce blog. Heather knows how to treat a dog right!

Rescue Community

The rescue community seems to be a bit warlike these days. One of the big issues on craigslist right now is how much to charge for a rescue and here are my feeling about paying for a rescue:

If you want a dog that has already been vetted and had shots and possibly some socialization so you can crow about how "I rescued a dog" and you want that dog for free-then shame on YOU. It costs money to vet a dog, time to care for administer any meds and work with any behavioral problems. If you can't afford a vet you can't afford a dog. (direct quote from Geraldine Whitaker). If you have to choose between beds and toys and things the dog needs vs. the price of a dog-you can't afford that dog.

I think people who want to "rescue" a fully vetted, possibly trained dog for "free" because they are just good people and want to do the right thing are kidding themselves. When you adopt a dog from a rescue organization, that dog has already been rescued and taken care of-by participating in the cost of said rescue, you are participating IN the rescue.

Go out and find a "free dog" that is full of fleas, heartworm, not potty trained and see how much it costs to rescue that free dog. If you don't have the time and money-you can't afford a dog.

I don't rescue dogs, but occasionally one comes along that needs a little help. The reason I don't run a rescue is because I couldn't stand the people lined up wanting a handout dog so that they can make themselves feel better about how they "saved a dog" without doing any work or spendng any money.

Kitty Update

Pasht is old and has allergies, new rabies vaccines and a new vet file. But, she's gonna be all right, and that's what counts.

Old Dogs/New Tricks

Bitty came to stay on Friday. She started in with the pack routines on Saturday. Tonight she marched into the house at bedtime, waited in the kitchen while those that needed them got their meds, and marched herself down to the bedroom and got into her crate and waited to be fed.

Amazing and wonderful.